System Architecture
Bus
A shared communication pathway connecting multiple components, allowing data transfer between them.
Detailed Explanation
A bus provides a standardized interface for components to communicate without point-to-point wiring. Components connect as masters (initiators) or slaves (targets). Arbitration resolves contention when multiple masters need access.
Bus architectures evolved from simple shared buses (where all traffic is visible to all agents) to switched fabrics (crossbars) that allow parallel transactions. Modern SoCs use hierarchical bus structures with bridges between domains.